Worship and Reflection Resources

Trinity Grace United Church, Vancouver, BC

Liturgies

Scroll down for liturgies, reflections/ sermons, songs, and other resources. Resources here can be used freely in your worship service or community, as long as you seek permission to use any of material noted as copyrighted. Where material is open for reprint, please make sure you include the name of the writers.

 

 

P.I.E. Day Worship Service Templates

We commissioned two orders of worship from enfleshed, which has roots in the United Methodist church in the US, and beyond. Check out the complete services, including hymns, prayers, communion liturgy, and scripture suggestions!

Affirming Worship – Kamloops United Church, Summer 2019

Affirming Worship August 18, 2019 Kamloops United (1)

United Church of Canada resources

Affirming Celebration liturgy, Sherwood Park United Church, AB, April 2018  (PDF)

Robert McClure United Church Advent candle liturgy, 2017 Calgary. (PDF)

Litany and order of service, Gaetz Memorial United Church‘s Affirming celebration, Red Deer AB, November 2017.

A prayer for Pride 2017 by AUSE

Worship services honouring the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia:
May 17, 2017: Original liturgy and sermon notes by Ruth Wood, commissioned by Affirm United/ S’affirmer Ensemble and The United Church of Canada. Liturgy-Speaking-our-truth-IDAHOT 2017-by Ruth Wood (PDF)

May 17, 2011: Bilingual Prayer Suggestions Part IEnglish Prayer Suggestions Part II

Advent 2007 worship resource – a beautiful Advent worship resource, written by Rev. Dr. Sally Harris. The resource includes scripture commentary, worship outlines with responsive readings and prayers. You can see it all at the Welcoming Resources website: www.welcomingresources.org/advent.htm

Reflections and sermons

Sermon notes on Reconciliation/ 2 Corinthians 5 : Rt Rev Jordan Cantwell, Moderator, United Church of Canada. Preached at AUSE’s 2016 annual conference, closing worship. Sermon outline for 2 Corinthians 5-Moderator-AUSE Conference closing worship July 2016

Mad Trans Love: Rev Cindy Bourgeois, offered at St Andrew’s College, Saskatoon/ Treaty Six Territory, March 2015. Used with permission. Mad Trans Love sermon-Cindy Bourgeois (PDF)

Sodom and Gomorrah: Rev. Dr. Kate Crawford, Huron Shores pastoral charge, 2015. Sodom and Gomorrah sermon-Rev Dr Kate Crawford-Nov 2015

Fences: Reflection shared by Rev. Bain Milroy at Peterborough Presbytery, February 3, 2010 – reprinted with permission. Click here to open a PDF of this reflection

 

On Rocking the Boat: Reflection shared by Kathleen Sorenson
Click here to open pdf of this reflection

 

Resources

Day of Pink: The International Day of Pink is a a day where communities across the country and across the world unite in celebrating diversity and raising awareness to stop homophobic, transphobic and all other forms of bullying. Each year on the second Wednesday of April, millions of people wear pink to remember that positive actions make a difference and that the change starts with each one of us. Click here to open pdf file of Day of Pink Bulletin Insert (with prayer), created by the Mission, Outreach and Right Relations Enthusiasts, Shining Waters Presbytery, Bay of Quinte Conference

Theme song – Never Doubt – written by Gordon Miller for the 2007 Conference
(Lyrics, Melody and Chord Chart in Key of G)

A new  Affirming song  is born!

“We’re Affirming (There’s Room at the Table)” is a wonderful recent song with lyrics and music written by Dr. Janet Hammock, an Elder at Sackville United Church, Sackville, N.B. and Professor Emeritus of Music, Mount Allison University.  The piano accompaniment, created by Sackville United’s Music Director, Jennie Del Motte, can easily be adapted as needed by the accompanist. 

“We’re Affirming!!” was composed for a service at Sackville United Church on the day they became an Affirming church in September 2018, and it is so well-loved and so appropriate that it has been performed every year since on their affirming anniversary date.

The song is versatile and upbeat and could include up to four soloists, an SATB choir, and the congregation could be involved singing the refrain. There are two short bridges that enable two modulations from D Major to Eb Major, and finally to a bright and celebratory E Major.    

Below is a link to a video of a performance at the Affirming Day Anniversary service at Sackville United Church on  September 18, 2022. It will give music directors a good idea of the song’s tremendous impact and potential. Janet says “Ours is a small, very enthusiastic choir. This was the first time they had sung live in church since the pandemic started!” 

https://www.facebook.com/SackvilleUnitedChurch/videos/516937020433081      27:55 to 33:37

Music for “We’re Affirming!!”

Words for “We’re Affirming!!”